Although evvel considered something that mainly menopausal people used for vaginal dryness, lubricants are great for everyone, be it the best lubes for sensitive skin or a water-based personal lubricant to use with sex toys made of silicone. Whether you’re having vaginal sex or anal sex, lube is that friend that everyone needs for an extra good time.
But as much as lube can make penetrative sex (as well as masturbation play!) better, not every formula is as skin-friendly. You’ll want to make müddet that the lube is body-safe. In this case, avoid formulas like glycerin, alcohol, or parabens that can disrupt your vagina’s pH balance, or cause bacterial vaginosis or even yeast infections (more on that below). Below are the best lubes for sensitive skin, according to sex toy experts.
The best lubes for sensitive skin, at a glance
- Best Overall: Sliquid Organics Natural Lube, $18
- Most Discreet: Maude Shine Organic, $18
- Best Aloe-Based Lube: Aloe Cadabra Natural Water-Based Personal Lube, $10
- Best for Ultrasensitive Skin: Good Clean Love BioNude Ultra-Sensitive Lubricant, $12
All your sensitive-skin-friendly lube questions, answered
- What lubricant is best for sensitive skin?
- What type of lube is most likely to cause irritation?
- What type of lube is least likely to cause infection?
- What do gynecologists recommend for sensitive skin?
Sliquid Organics Natural Lube
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Sliquid Organics Natural Lube
Lovehoney
Both Renita F. White, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn, and Charlsie Celestine, MD, an obstetrics and gynecology physician, are fans of an aloe-vera-based lube, and that’s exactly what you get with this option. Sliquid is known for its silky-smooth texture and its ability to last a long time before reapplication. It also contains natural ingredients like antioxidant hibiscus, soothing vitamin E, and calming green tea, and is free of parabens and glycerin.
- Type: Water-based
Maude Shine Organic
Maude Shine Organic
Amazon
Maude
Nordstrom
Free People
Here’s another water-based lube that puts aloe vera front and center. It’s paraben-, glycerin-, and fragrance-free. It’s also formulated to be pH-balanced and you don’t have to worry about bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections after using it.
- Type: Water-based
Lelo Personal Moisturizing Lubricant
Lelo Personal Moisturizing Lubricant
Lovehoney
Lelo
This is one of the most elegant lube dispensers we’ve seen—we wouldn’t expect any less from Lelo. This personal lubricant is water-based and glycerin-, fragrance-, and paraben-free. A little dab goes a long way, so you get to have that elegant bottle on your nightstand for a delectable amount of time.
- Type: Water-based
Good Clean Love BioNude Ultra-Sensitive Personal Lubricant
Good Clean Love BioNude Ultra-Sensitive Personal Lubricant
Amazon
In the world of lubes, Good Clean Love has made a name for itself for being exactly that. Its Bio-Match technology is made to match the body’s natural chemistry by mimicking the vagina’s natural lubrication, which means maintaining the vaginal pH balance as well as being hypoallergenic and free of irritants.
- Type: Water-based
Dame Alu Aloe Lube
Dame Alu Aloe Lube
Walmart
Nordstrom
Like the rest of Dame’s products, Alu doesn’t disappoint. Containing natural extracts such as mushroom, hempseed, quinoa, and green tea, in addition to aloe vera, this lube is packed with skin-care-friendly ingredients. It also has a pH balance of 4 (the average range is between 3.8 and 5.0), so it won’t throw off your vaginal flora.
- Type: Water-based
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Aloe Cadabra Natural Organic Personal Lubricant
Aloe Cadabra Natural Organic Personal Lubricant
Amazon
Walmart
Made from 95% food-grade organic aloe vera (in case you want a snack!), this lube is adored by more than 14,000 people who gave it a five-star review. It’s not only free of the usual irritants like glycerin and glucose, but it’s also 100% vegan and pH-balanced for vaginas, and promises not to stain your favorite bedsheets. Plus, it comes with an applicator for easier reapplication.
- Type: Water-based
Überlube Luxury Lubricant
Überlube Luxury Lubricant
Walmart
Amazon
Anthropologie
As a silicone-based lube, this one is going to last a while and not need to be reapplied as often as water-based lube. “Uberlube is [safe for] healthy bacteria or pH levels,” says Michael Reed, MD, a board-certified functional and cosmetic gynecologist. “It’s unscented, unflavored, and long-lasting. It’s alcohol-free, gluten-free, and contains no glycerin or parabens. The texture is very smooth and slippery—a little bit goes a long way. It also washes off the sheets easily.” Keep in mind that silicone-based lubricants are not recommended to use with silicone toys so keep those toys in your drawer while using this particular lube.
Lucy Chapin, certified nurse midwife, also highly recommends Uberlube—although her first choice is coconut oil, but that’s only okay if you’re fluid-bonded because oil can destroy the integrity of latex. In addition to being glycerin-free and devoid of animal products, gluten, and other possible irritants, it also has vitamin E to keep your skin feeling smooth and moisturized. It also makes for a great anal lube because just a few drops will last and last, giving even the Energizer Bunny a run for his money.
- Type: Silicone-based
Ah! Yes Water-Based Lube
Ah! Yes Water-Based Lube
Amazon
Free of glycerin, parabens, and the other usual suspects, this lube packs a moisturizing punch thanks to the aloe vera it contains. It’s been created to match vaginal pH and comes in a handy squeeze bottle—a must for those who get easily frustrated with slippery pumps. It also has discreet packaging, if you’re someone who fears that anyone will know you’re using lube (although you shouldn’t be, because most of us do!).
- Type: Water-based
Bijoux Indiscrets Revitalising Intimate Massage Drops
Bijoux Indiscrets Revitalising Intimate Massage Drops
Bijoux Indiscrets
“The revitalizing massage drops are odorless and nonsticky,” says Amber Mallery, MPH, an AASECT certified sexuality educator. “Bijoux uses a formula designed to mimic the natural lubrication using the main ingredient SyriCalm. The texture is very spreadable and not thick. Overall the benefits of the revitalizing massage drops is on top of being able to use them as a lubricant, they have anti-inflammatory properties and the glide prevents micro tears and other health risks.” Also, SyriCalm is great for improving the skin’s barrier by keeping it healthy and strong, which is doubly important for those with sensitive skin.
- Type: Water-based
LubeLife Organic Aloe & Water-Based Personal Lubricant
LubeLife Organic Aloe & Water-Based Personal Lubricant
Amazon
Although #LubeLife isn’t new to the lube market, this aloe- and water-based lube is. In fact, it’s only been available for a few days so far and already has a 4.7 out of five-star ratings on Amazon—not too shabby right out of the gate. Sarah Kelleher, LCSW, a sex and relationship psychotherapist, is a fan of water-based lubes and personally uses #LubeLife. She likes the refreshing, lightweight, and nonsticky feel that she says “you kind of forget it’s there.”
- Type: Water-based
D Glide 2.2 fl oz Water Based Personal Lubricant Hypoallergenic Lube
D Glide 2.2 fl oz Water Based Personal Lubricant Hypoallergenic Lube
Amazon
“For sensitive skin or people with allergies, I’d recommend ID hypoallergenic lube,” says Vicki Lyons, sexual wellness expert and chief editor at Bodyjoys. “It’s versatile and can be used for vaginal or anal play and is safe for use with toys and condoms too with no degradation of silicone or latex. It’s free from ingredients such as glycerine, parabens, benzoic acid, propylene glycol, petrochemicals, and alcohol, so there won’t be any itching or sensitivity afterwards and it’s also a product that doesn’t become sticky over time, so good for long sessions too.” ID is also odorless and colorless, and doesn’t stain.
- Type: Water-based
What lubricant is best for sensitive skin?
Sensitivities run the gamut. A substance that might make one person break out in a rash or infection might not cause the slightest problems in someone else. So if you know what your skin is sensitive to, avoid it. If you don’t know what might cause irritation, it’s best to stay away from specific ingredients that are known irritants for most people.
“The vagina and vulva are made of very fragile skin, so the wrong lubricant can cause irritation and inflammation,” says Renita F. White, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn and member of The Pulse, the Honey Pot Company’s panel of expert advisers about all things vagina-related. “Those with sensitive skin are also at risk of getting an unwanted allergic reaction to some products. Using hypoallergenic water-based or silicone-based lubricants are best to avoid vaginal irritation caused by friction during sex.”
If you do opt for silicone-based lube, remember that it cannot be used with silicone toys such as vibrators since they can degrade over time. Although this deterioration is more evident on lower-quality silicone, it’s still not worth the risk even on higher-quality, medical-grade silicone options, especially if you dropped a pretty penny on them. If you’re someone who likes to keep things au natural, then coconut oil is a fantastic alternative for its “quality and attention to supporting vaginal health and comfort. Which after all, should be the goal,” according to Lucy Chapin, certified nurse midwife.
What type of lube is most likely to cause irritation?
When choosing a lube, the general rule is to avoid the following ingredients:
- Glycerin
Not only can glycerin, petroleum, and alcohol cause yeast infections, but “these additives can lead to allergic reactions and also increase the risk of bacterial infections,” says Dr. White. (Glycerin, as well as glycerol, is a type of sugar alcohol that’s been linked to yeast infections.)
According to a 2022 study published in the International Journal of Environment Research and Public Health, parabens are endocrine-disruptive chemicals (EDCs), meaning they do just that: disrupt the body’s endocrine system. EDCs have been linked to breast cancer, that’s why avoiding them anytime you can is always a good idea.
“Definitely read the label’s list of ingredients before you pick a lube off the shelf or from an online store,” says Charlsie Celestine, MD, an obstetrics and gynecology physician in New Jersey. “You want to avoid fragrance, flavor, or aroma. Avoid other ingredients such as alcohol that can be irritative, and spermicide ingredients such as chlorhexidine gluconate and nonoxynol-9. Avoid propylene glycol as well. Also steer clear of those lubes that advertise a warming, cooling, or tingling sensation, as the ingredients that give these tend to be possible irritants.”
As enticing as novelty formulas (hi, warming lubes!) may seem for your sex life, if you consider the boatload of chemicals required to create these products, then that should put you off right there. If you still want to heighten the senses during sex, consider temperature play as a foreplay idea. With toys, that could involve heating or cooling a dildo made of glass or steel, while with a partner, that could be teasing each other with ice, warmed-up massage oil, or hot wax from a candle.
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What type of lube is least likely to cause infection?
“Honestly, almost anything can cause irritation depending on what each individual is sensitive to,” says Dr. Celestine, which is why she stresses the importance of reading the label “to make mühlet there’s nothing in the ingredient list that you know has irritated you in the past or that you are allergic to. There are some [ingredients] that are less likely, but I’ll never tell anyone that any are 100% guaranteed to not cause irritation.”
But as Dr. White points out, sticking to lubricants that are hypoallergenic, void of known irritating additives, and those that match the pH of the vagina—again, the average range is between 3.8 and 5.0 according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—then you can minimize the chances that you’ll run into a sorun. pH, a.k.a. potential of hydrogen, measures the acidity of something on a scale from 0 to 14, with 0 being the highest level of acidic, 14 being the lowest, and 7 being neutral. If the vagina’s pH balance ends up being below or above its natural average, it can result in an infection or be indicative of an already-present infection, per a 2021 study published in Diagnostics.
What do gynecologists recommend for sensitive skin?
According to both Dr. White and Dr. Celestine, aloe vera is ülkü for those with sensitive skin and has great hydrating properties. Of course, if aloe bothers you, then you should continue your lube search for those that contain organic extracts, as opposed to synthetics and chemicals. Soothing vitamin E is also recommended for those whose skin is on the sensitive side.
“What’s great is that many brands now are recognizing the importance of a safe lube that works for most [people],” says Dr. Celestine. “And also, believe it or not, there are actual guidelines for lubricants set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food & Drug Administration (FDA); lubricants are classified as a medical device by the FDA. So for those with sensitive skin, I advise making müddet the lube you choose is cleared by the FDA.”
